Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-12-08

IatnerS sake ana Tor haymOndS future,
which is now to be passed by your side."
Suzanne, too weak to talk, made an affirm
alive sign, and Raymond bent over her and
pressed his first kiss on her lips-his seal Of
| betrothal
Raymond knew all; his mother had ex-
| plated her crime, and her soul had passed to
a higher Judge, and Roger had forgiven her;
and il his mother was forgiven, then, at last,
he might accept the joy that such forgive
ness brought.
The two men went out together and Ray
mond heard all there was to tell, and he
went to Meridon farm to pay the last sad
rites to his erring mothers ashes
Roger loved his child, and he was willing
that she should become Raymond's wife; but
that did not prevent him from feeling his
loss, and as he walked his thoughts went, as,
indeed, they always had, back to the days
when his beloved wife was witn him, before
this cruel tragedy had taken place. He had
loved Henriette truly and profoundly, and
her memory was always bright and tenderly
kept in his heart If hearts
| That day was Saturday, and it was for this
night that the appointment with Luversan
was made at Larouette's cottage, in Vile
| d'Avray, which Roger had rented some days
before. Everything had remained just as it
was the day Of the murder Nothing was
changed, and Roger was obliged to &c there
punctual to his appointment, to make an
effort to discover the real assassin in order to
clear his own name.
Suzanne, the doctor said, was now out OF
| danger and Roger left her in his charge and
that of the nurse for the night, and she
seemed to be so well that he had no fear.
Roger had written Tristot and Pivolot to
come there as early as o'clock, and they,
acting on his orders, induced NJ. Lacroix and
NJ. De Lignerolles to accompany them. The
latter, though not knowing what they were
wanted for, were both on hand at the
hour appointed, and were taken at once
to a room adjoining the one where
Roger intended to receive Luversan and
where Larouette had been killed. Tristot
took the Lead and somehow managed to make
those two men, usually so positive and opin-
donated, accept their demand that they should
wait there, and promised they should see
something worth oil their pains They were
duly introduced to Mr. William Forney, and
found him a pleasant gentleman, though
little mysterious in wishing them to come
here in so peculiar manner, but they were
sufficiently curious to await the scene pre-
pared for them.
1t was about o'clock when Luversan de-
scended from the train and took his way
along the street towards the cottage, and he
looked nervously about him and felt reas-
sured as he saw none but strange faces
He went slowly along the street until
| be came to the cottage, and there, in spite
Of all he could do, he slipped to the
darkest side and kept as much as pos
sible under the shadow of those same trees
which had sheltered him before. In spite of
all he could do he was afraid.
| But he knew what at stake and be
went to the door this time, as he had not
done before and rang the bell. Roger him
self opened it, saying carelessly;
Excuse me. / have no servants yet, ex-
cept Mother Dondaine, who cooks and man
ages for me for the present"
Luversan gave his hand to Roger, who
noticed that it was cold and damp, and that
he shivered, though the night was warm.
"Are you ill!" said Roger.
"No. walked rapidly; that is all"
They went up the few steps leading to the
little sitting room, and though Luversan tried
to smile, it was more CT a grimace that dis
| figured his features, and his breathing seemed
oppressed as they entered the fatal room, and
Luversan made gesture OF horror as he
noticed everything as they had been fixed in
his memory for ten years.
"Come in, come in" ST ia Roger. sit is not
very pleasant here, but it is odd, and therefore
| pleases me. | took it because | heard there
was ghost, but there isn't after all. Here is
the very room and there beside that secretary
the spot where the old man they tell us OF
was murdered, and they found his body right
| there where Won stand
Luversan stepped back quickly and looked
mechanically on the floor, saying hoarsely
ais that bloodp
"No, no. replied Roger. "The fools washed
that up. l wish they had left it. But you
appear uneasy. Don't you like the placer
at is not that; it is that what you are about
to answer mo is of such mighty Importance
that l am anxious"
"Oh, yes; well, that is grave, very grave
and am very sorry-yes, really sorry"--
"What, you refuSe|
"Well, no; not exactly. don't exactly re
fuse, but l am not quito ready to accept
either. | will tell you. l understand yor
need million. Well, yesterday l went t.
Paris to get it, but my bankers who hold my
funds persuaded me to tell why / wanted it
and they objected so strenuously that l coult
not get all | wished; and though / happened
to have disposable some 5000 or 600, 00
francs, l have not all, and that is why an
perplexed OF course, as soon as could sent
to New York could let you have the whole
but that takes so long"
Luversan began to plead and argue anC
try to persuade Roger that he could easily
borrow the rest and let him have it in tn
morning, but Roger said he never borrowed
and that was out of the question.
II don't contradict you" he said; II nigh
borrow it, but | won't. have here some
where near COG, 0O0 but that is OF no use t,
you. and so will keep it" And saying this
he partly opened the old secretary, letting
Luversan see the rolls and packages Of money
and his eyes glittered rs he looked upon them
"If had that, would leave Il ountry,
he thought, "and go to New York, and in
few years could make an enormous for
tune
But Roger would not let him have tn
100000, nor any part Of it, and fnall
Luversan, pale with rage, left the house, an
Roger closed tho door upon him and the
he went back upstairs and opened the win
dow where Luversan had entered before, an
turned the light down little and then cal
ried something heavy and awkward to tn
side of the secretary and placed it there, the
/ IeJDlDeQ the ICuT tIlSil III luc ueAb IOOUi.
But an hour later they heard slight nois
and saw Luversan creeping along toward til
house. always under the shadow of the trees
from the side nearest the Villa Montalais, an
saw him glide from one shadow to another
saw him reach the grating, by which he coul
climb to the window, and grasp the bars an
softly mount until be reached the sill an
: then step over and into the room and cree
softly, slowly toward the secretary, wher
William Forney sat with his head bowe
upon his folded arms and fast asleep. 3
must have been asleep, as be did not hear, nc
lift his head, and the draft from the ope
window flickered the light little and LITE
q lock of that snow white hair.
Luversan held in his right hand long an
: sharp poignard, and as he advanced he LITE
it high in the air and brought il down wit
;, all his might upon the middle Of the back {
the sleeping man, who moved but slight
under the shock. Luversan drew the knit
|. out to strike again, and he struck ten, twent
times in sn access Of fury. and when he ",
led he cody drew the kosr knife q